Petunia plant named ‘Fipetparpunch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Fipetparpunch’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored flowers with white and pale yellow green-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIPETPARPUNCH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fipetparpunch’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, and attractive flower color.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2010 in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number For 111030, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number For 111031. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Fipetparpunch’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Fipetparpunch’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large red purple-colored flowers with white and pale yellow         green-colored centers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as upright as plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as upright as plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia×hybrida ‘Famous Pink Morn’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Famous Pink Morn’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more upright than plants of         ‘Famous Pink Morn’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Famous Pink Morn’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Famous Pink Morn’ had pink and         white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fipetparpunch’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Fipetparpunch’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number For 111030.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number For 111031. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six to eight days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 19             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 to 21             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding growth habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about five             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             lateral branches; pinching is typically not required.         -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 26 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 24 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; viscid.         -   Color.—Close to 137A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Densely pubescent;             viscid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D; venation,             close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Relatively large             single salverform flowers arising from leaf axils; freely             flowering habit with usually about 15 flowers developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants typically beginning             flowering about 6.5 weeks after planting; plants flower             continuously from late spring, throughout the summer and             into the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Color: Close to 145A and N77B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 4 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 3.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 3.5 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Cuspidate. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal lobe texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Densely pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 67A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to N66C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Center,             close to 151D and N155D surrounded with close to N66B; color             does not fade with development; venation, close to 153D.             Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Center, close to 150D             surrounded by close to 64D; venation, close to N144D.             Throat: Close to N144A; venation, close to 153B. Tube: Close             to 151D; venation, close to 152B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals per flower, sepals fused at the base. Sepal length:             About 1.5 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly             oblong. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Cuneate. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Densely pubescent; viscid. Color, upper surface: Close to             143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 143C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:             About 40° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Densely pubescent; viscid. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 3 cm. Filament color: Close to N155D             and 157D. Anther shape: Broadly reniform. Anther length:             About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About             1.9 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Flattened,             three-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 143B. Ovary color: Close             to 145A. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have             not been observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Fipetparpunch’ as illustrated and described. 